Actuated film display device

Abstract

An actuated film display device comprises a first fixed electrode, a first movable film electrode, which is placed to face the first fixed electrode to form a first optical path on an opposing side to the first fixed electrode, and which has a fixed end and a movable end, the movable end being displaced toward the first fixed electrode by application of a first potential difference between the first fixed electrode and the first movable film electrode, thereby shutting off the first optical path, a second fixed electrode placed at a predetermined distance from the first fixed electrode, and a second movable film electrode, which is placed to face the second fixed electrode to form a second optical path on an opposing side to the second fixed electrode, which has a fixed end and a movable end, the movable end being displaced toward the second fixed electrode by application of a second potential difference between the second fixed electrode and the second movable film electrode, thereby shutting off the second optical path. The display device having the above-described optical shutter as one pixel can display gray scale without using numerous signal lines and scanning lines.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An actuated film display device comprising: 
       a fixed electrode formed by insulatively stacking a plurality of conductive layers different in length, in order of length, while the conductive layers are trued up at one end thereof;  
       a light-shield movable film electrode, which is placed so as to face a surface of the fixed electrode having the shortest one of the conductive layers uppermost thereon, and which has a fixed end fixed at the one end of the conductive layers and a movable end, the light-shield movable film electrode being displaced toward the conductive layers of the fixed electrode by application of a voltage not less than a critical voltage between at least one of the conductive layers and the light-shield movable film electrode, the critical voltage being different with the respective conductive layers different in length; and  
       a potential supply circuit selectively supplying different potentials of the voltage not less than the critical voltage to the conductive layers of the fixed electrode.  
     
     
       2. The actuated film display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixed electrode has a light guiding portion formed of a transparent material and having a curved surface which faces the movable film electrode and the stacked conductive layers are transparent and formed along the curved surface. 
     
     
       3. The actuated film display device according to  claim 2 , further comprising an insulating layer covering the conductive layer. 
     
     
       4. The actuated film display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a light source arranged at a side of the fixed end of the movable film electrode. 
     
     
       5. The actuated film display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixed electrode and the movable film electrode provide gray scale display in accordance with the potentials applied to the conductive layers.